Beverage brewing

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and apparatus for brewing coffee are provided. The apparatus may include a first film and a second film. A filter may be disposed between the first film and the second film. The filter may retain an amount of material. The first and second film may be flexible. The first film may be pierced by a brewing needle. The second film may be pierced by a drain needle. The second film may be sealed to the first film along a perimeter defined by the first film. The first film may have a flat configuration. The second film may have a concave surface that faces the first film. The filter may define an annular material holding region. The filter may define a drainage region that is coaxial with the filter. The filter may form a layer parallel to and supported by the first film in an area of the first film that overlies the drainage region.

Apparatus and methods for beverage brewing are provided. The apparatus may include a first film. The apparatus may include a second film. The apparatus may include a filter that is configured to retain an amount of flavor source. The filter may be disposed between the first film and the second film. The apparatus may be embodied as a packet.

The apparatus and methods may be used for brewing or extraction of any suitable flavor source. The flavor source may be a concentrated flavor source. The flavor source may be a flavor source in a nonconcentrated state. The apparatus and methods may involve contacting the flavor source with water. The water may be heated. The water may be chilled. The water may be at room temperature. The water may be filtered. The water may be treated by reverse osmosis. Water may be as-is. The water may include supplemental minerals or other additives.

The packet may include a pod. The pod may include a form of identification. The identification may include a machine-readable identification item. The item may include a symbol. The item may include a code. The item may include information. The information may be encoded. The item may include, in any suitable format, one or more of a barcode, a QR code, a selected color or colors, a pattern, security ink, an RFID tag, or any other suitable identifier.

The pod may be a pod that does not include a filter.

The pod may include a well. The pod may be a pod that does not include a well. The well may be filled with flavor source.

The filter may serve as the well. The film may serve as the well.

The well may have an annular shape. The annular shape may include a partial toroid. The partial toroid may have a surface that is annular. An annular well may define a non-well region within the boundaries of the well. The non-well region may be positioned centrally relative to a central axis of the pod. The well may define a shape that is topologically multiply, e.g., doubly, connected. The well may include one or more sections. When the well includes two or more sections, the two or more sections may be filled with different flavor sources.

The well may define a shape that is topologically singly connected. The well may be a well that does not define a non-well region within the boundaries of the well. The well may be shaped to provide a bed of flavor source that has a disc-like footprint. The bed may have a convex surface. The bed may have a concave surface. The bed may have a thickness that increases away from the central axis of the pod. The bed may have a thickness that decreases away from the central axis of the pod.

An identification item may be used for restricting use of a brewing device to pods that include predetermined identification information. An identification item may be used to set a brewing parameter. An identification item may be used to set an extraction parameter. The identification item may be an item that is not used by the brewing device.

The pod may include a valve. The valve may be a one-way valve. The valve may be configured to permit fluid to escape from the pod. The fluid may include a gas. The fluid may include a liquid.

The pod may be packed with a flavor source such as coffee prior to outgassing of vapor from the flavor source. The valve may prevent inflation or distortion of the pod from the outgassing. The valve may help maintain freshness of the flavor source.

Water may be prevented from passing through the valve under brewing conditions. The valve may have a disable feature. The brewing device may block the valve.

The valve may be located on the top of the pod.

The valve may be located on the bottom of the pod. The valve may be used for outputting the beverage from the pod. The valve may be used as a drain for beverage. When the valve is the drain, the drain may be a drain that does not include a needle. The drain may include a guide to prevent liquid from spraying in directions away from a drinking cup placed to collect the beverage. The guide may collect the liquid. The guide may direct the liquid into the drinking cup. A vacuum or low pressure may be applied to the guide to help extract the beverage from the pod.

The apparatus may include one or more needle boots. A boot may include a ring, bushing or gasket on a needle that is set back from the tip of the needle. The boot may prevent escape of fluid between a film and a needle when the needle has penetrated the film.

The film may include a single layer of material. The film may include two or more layers of material. Two or more of the layers may be laminated together.

The film may include: polyethylene, polypropylene, crystalized polypropylene, cellulose, paper, paper having any suitable PT value, metal (e.g., aluminum), ceramic, polylactic acid (“PLA”), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (“PBAT”), or any other suitable material.

The film may be flexible.

The film may include a barrier later (e.g., metal, ceramic).

The film may be compostable.

The film may be biodegradable.

The film may be bio-based.

The film may include a heat seal layer.

The film may include any one or more of the materials, characteristics, dimensions or properties disclosed herein, or any other suitable materials, characteristics, dimensions or properties.

The first film may be a single lamina. The first film may include two or more laminates. The second film may be a single lamina. The second film may include two or more laminates.

The film may have a thickness. If the film is a single-layer, the thickness may be a single-layer thickness. If the film includes one or more layers, the thickness may be an overall thickness. The thickness may range from about 20μ to about 200 p. For example, a 6-8μ aluminum layer may be bonded to a 50-60μ sealing layer. The sealing layer may include heat-sealing material.

A filter may be made include paper, non-woven polymer, PLA, biodegradable material, compostable material, bio-based material, or any other suitable material. The filter may include any one or more of the materials, characteristics, dimensions or properties disclosed herein, or any other suitable materials, characteristics, dimensions or properties.

The flavor source may include ground coffee, tea, powder or any suitable soluble, leachable, infusible, miscible or liquid material. Flavor or material may be drawn from the flavor source by cold water. Flavor or material may be drawn from the flavor source by hot water. The water may be at a temperature that is drinkable. Water enriched from the flavor source may be dispensed into a drinking cup.

The flavor source may include a solid, a gel, a liquid, or any other suitable material.

The first film may be configured to be pierced by one or more brewing needles.

The pod may be configured to reduce or prevent degradation of the flavor source. A film may include a vapor barrier. The film may include a light barrier. The film may include an oxygen barrier.

One or more components of a pod may be biodegradable. One or more components of a pod may be compostable.

FIG. 1 shows in profile view an illustrative packet in accordance with the principles of the invention. The packet may include a top film. The packet may include a bottom film. The bottom film may be heat sealed to the top film at or near a perimeter of the top film. The packet may include a filter. The filter may be formed into an annular well. The well may be filled with coffee grounds. Brewing apparatus (not shown) may cause one or more brewing needles to pierce the top film and provide hot water or any other suitable liquid. The hot water may extract solutes or particles from the coffee grounds. The filter may allow only part of the extracted material to pass into the drain area. A drain (not shown) may pierce the bottom film to allow brewed coffee to drain into a cup.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the packet. A top surface of the packet may have a shape that is square, rectangular, round, or any other suitable shape. The top surface may be formed from the first film.

FIG. 3 shows the packet in an illustrative brewing apparatus. The brewing apparatus may include one or more brewing needles. The needles may be arranged over the annular well. The brewing apparatus may include a water vessel. The vessel may have an inlet from a water source. The vessel may be configured to heat the water.

The brewing apparatus may have side walls (not shown). The brewing apparatus may have open sides. The packet may be configured withstand heat and pressure without support from side walls.

The brewing apparatus may include an outlet drain. The brewing apparatus may include an outlet-drain holder. The brewing apparatus may include a brewing platform. The platform may hold the packet.

The brewing apparatus may be configured to apply pressure to the packet. The pressure may urge liquid to exit the packet. The pressure may be applied by squeezing the packet between the brewing platform and the water vessel or a different structure opposite the packet from the brewing platform. The pressure may be applied by applying a fluid pressure to the top film from above. The pressure may be applied by applying the fluid pressure inside the packet. The pressure may be applied by applying a fluid pressure to the bottom film from below. The brewed coffee may drain into a receptacle. The receptacle may include a drinking cup, bottle or other suitable receptacle.

The brewing platform may be configured for collection of liquid from the outlet drain. The outlet drain may be configured to retract after puncturing the second film.

All ranges and parameters disclosed herein shall be understood to encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein, every number between the endpoints, and the endpoints. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more (e.g. 1 to 6.1), and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 2.3 to 9.4, 3 to 8, 4 to 7), and finally to each number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 contained within the range.

Thus, methods and apparatus for lighting have been provided. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation. 

1. Apparatus comprising: a first film; a second film; and, disposed between the first film and the second film, a filter that is configured to retain an amount of material.
 2. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the first film is flexible.
 3. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the second film is flexible.
 4. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the first film is configured to be pierced by a brewing needle.
 5. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the first film includes a vapor barrier.
 6. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the second film is configured to be pierced by a drain needle.
 7. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the second film includes a vapor barrier.
 8. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein: the first film defines a perimeter; and the second film is sealed to the first film along the perimeter.
 9. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein: the first film has a flat configuration; and the second film has a concave surface that faces the first film.
 10. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the filter defines an annular material holding region.
 11. The apparatus of embodiment 1 wherein the filter defines a drainage region.
 12. The apparatus of embodiment 11 wherein the drainage region is coaxial with the filter.
 13. The apparatus of embodiment 11 wherein the filter forms a layer parallel to and supported by the first film in an area of the first film that overlies the drainage region.
 14. The apparatus of embodiment 11 wherein the filter defines a central hole having a perimeter that is coincident with a top of the drainage region.
 15. A method of manufacturing a brewing packet, the method comprising: providing a first film; forming an annular well from a filter; attaching the well to the first film; and sealing a second film to the first film to enclose the well.
 16. The method of embodiment 15 wherein the sealing includes heat sealing.
 17. The method of embodiment 15 wherein the attaching includes heat sealing.
 18. The method of embodiment 15 further including, before the sealing, placing beverage material in the well. 